Working barrel support



March 3, 1942. J. H. REYNOLDS WORKING BARRELSUPPORT Filed Dec. 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 1 dose hH Qe nolds Gnu MM; v

March 3, 1942.

JJH. REYNOLDS WORKING BARREL SUPPORT Filed Dec. 1,' 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet2 a in a a m 7W w v vv vvv W M M 12 M I J 5 l 7 C r h "H a h r m 5 o AAQyd a fw a m m m E 6 A We M J F N v r F x J March 3,1942. J. H. REYNOLDS2,274,740

wpgxme BARRELSUPPORT Filed Dec. 1, 1957 s shets sheet s 5 Maw Law a m v3 m d E g E Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE WORKINGBAR ItEL SUPPORT Joseph H. Reynolds, Cisco, Tex.

Application December 1, 1937, Serial No. 177,394

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in working barrelsupports.

It is the usual practice in pumping wells, to attach a packer to theworking barrel of the pump, whereby the packer is lowered into the wellcasing with said barrel. When the barrel is properly located in thecasing, the packer is set and the pumping operation begun. As is wellknown the pump plunger or piston carries a traveling valve, while astanding valve is disposed in the lower end of the working barrel.Through usage, these valves, as well as the plunger or piston becomeworn and require repair or replacement and in order to accomplish suchrepair or replacement it is necessary to remove the working barrel fromthe well casing. Since the packer is attached to the barrel, removal ofthe packer is also necessitated each time the barrel is removed.Usually, removal of the packer is difficult due to the fact that saidpacker has adhered to the wall of the well casing, this beingparticularly true when the packer has been set for some time. Not onlyis removal difiicult because of the failure of the packer to return to anormal unexpanded position to disengage from the casing wall, therebyresulting in a swabbing action as said packer moves upwardly, but alsosaid packer is damaged by the joints of the easing since the exteriorsurface of the packer contacts said joints in its upward travel. Afterthe valves and plunger of therworkingbarrel have been repaired, it isusually necessary to also replace the packer which had been damaged uponits removal from the casing.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide improved means forsupporting a working barrel within a well casing, in cooperation with awell packer, which means is so constructed that the working barrel maybe set within or removed from the well casing without disturbing thepacker, whereby the working barrel may be removed for repairs orreplacement at any time without removing the packer.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved supportfor a working barrel which includes a seat element associated with thewell packer which packer is arranged to be set within the well casing,and a complementary member adapted to rest upon and be supported by saidseat element, with means for securing a working barrel to saidcomplementary member, whereby the well may be pumped without tubing, thecasing acting as the fluid conductor, and also whereby the workingbarrel and member may be readily removed from the casing at any timewithout dislodging or disturbing the seat element and 'carried by thewell packer'assembly; the nipple being so constructed that a workingbarrel may be connected to either end of the nipple so as to eitherextend upwardly or depend downwardly therefrom; such arrangementpermitting the use of working barrels of different diameters, whereby aworking barrel of the proper size, as determined by the well conditions,may be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved support, ofthe character described, which includes a seating collar adapted to besupported in the well casing and a nipple arranged to seat within saidcollar, with sealing means for engaging the inner 'wall of the wellcasing to prevent sand, or other extraneous matter, above the nipple andcollar from fallingdownwardly thereby; means also being provided forby-passing free gas from below the support, whereby such gas in nottrapped therebeneath.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a supportconstructed in accordance with'the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view,taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view,v

taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse, sertical, sectional view,

showing the supporting collar supported within.

the well casing,

Figure 6 is a similar view, with the seating nipple within the collarand having the working barrel depending therefrom,

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, with the working barrelextending upwardly from the nipple,

Figure 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the seatingnipple, showing the by-pass ports p u Figure 9 is a transverse,vertical, sectional view of a modified form of seating nipple, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged, sectional detail of one of the check valves.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates an elongate collar which isformed with an axial bore II. The lower end of the bore is provided withscrew threads l2, and above the threaded portion the bore is enlarged toform an internal, annular, beveled seat l3. Immediately above the seat,the wall of the bore is inclined or flared outwardly, whereby anelongate inclined seating surface or bowl M is provided. Above the bowlI4, the wall of the bore is substantially vertical.

The outer diameter of the collar is slightly less than the internaldiameter of the well casing A into which said collar is lowered. Thecollar is screwed onto the upper end of a section of pipe or tubing l5and this section is shown as having its lower end secured to a packerassembly 16, whereby both the packer and the collar are carried thereby.When it is desired to pump the well, the packer l8, pipe [5 and collarIll are lowered into the well casing A and said packer is set so as toengage the casing wall at a desired elevation. The packer, when in a setposition, will seal off the annular space between the casing A and pipesection [-5. If desired, a section of pipe I!- may depend from thepacker.

It is pointed out that the collar is shown and described as fastened tothe packer assembly by means of the pipe 15, but it is not essentialthat the assembly l6 be fastened to the pipe. The packer assembly couldbe a separate unit and after it is properly set therein, the collar andpipe l5 secured thereto, may be lowered and suitably supported above thepacker.

After the packer has been set, the collar I8 is supported within thewell casing A in the manner shown in Figure 1. A seating nipple I8 whichis arranged to be attached to a working barrel B, as will be explained,is adapted to enter the upper end of the bore ll of the collar l0 so asto be supported therein. The nipple has an axial bore l9 which isinternally screw-threaded substantially throughout its length. The lowerend of the outer surface of the nipple is tapered inwardly to form ataperedseating surface 2!], the inclination of the surface 20 beingcomplementary to the inclinedsurface or bowl [4 of the bore'of thecollar 10. The extreme lower end of the nipple is beveled at El and whensaid nipple is inserted within the bore of the collar, the annular bevel2| rests upon the internal,v beveled seat I3, while the tapered surface20 of said nipple engages the inclined bowl M of the bore, whereby thenipple is firmly supported within the collar. When the nipple is inposition within the collar, the lower edge of said nipple extends intothe bore of the collar (Figure 1),.

The upper end of a working barrel B is adapted to be screw-threaded intothe lower edge of the bore l9 and is, of course, lowered through thewell casing as tha nipple is lowered. After the nipple is seated withthe collar, as has been explained, the working barrel depends axiallythrough the pipe section is. It is preferable, although not essential,that the pipe section I5 be longer than the Working barrel so that saidbarrel does not extend into the mandrel of the packing assembly. Due tothe fact, that the bore I9 of the nipple is of less diameter than thebore ll of the collar, an annular space 22 is present between the outersurface of the working barrel B and the bore of the pipe IS.

The working, barrel B may be of any desired construction and includesthe usual standing 3 sleeve.

with radial openings 34 whereby communication valve 23, which is securedwithin its lower end. A pump plunger 24, having the usual travelingvalve 25 thereon, is movable vertically within the bore of the barrel B,said plunger being actuated by pump rods 26 which extend axially throughthe casing from the surface of the well. As the plunger is reciprocatedwithin the working barrel, the fluid is drawn from the bottom of thewell, which is below the packer l6, and into the working barrel. Thefluid passes through the traveling valve 25 upon each downstroke of theplunger, and upon each upstroke of said plunger is lifted upwardly intothe well casing above the nipple and then to the surface. This is theusual operation of a well pump and the particular structure of theworking barrel and plunger forms no part of the present invention andis, therefore, subject to variation.

Under certain well conditions, there might be free gas present in thewell and this gas would naturally flow upwardly into the annular. space22 surrounding the working barrel. This trapped gas would continue to.accumulate until suflicient pressure was built up to lift the travelingvalve 23, which is undesirable as it might interfere with the operationof the pump. In orderto permit the escape of gas which might accumulatein the annular space 22, the nipple I8 is provided with a plurality ofvertical passages 21, which passages are preferably spaced equallyaround the nipple. Each passage extends from the lower edge of thenipple to the top thereof a d the upper portion of each passage isenlarged, where.- by an. annular shoulder or seat 28 is formed withineach, passage. A ball 29 is arranged to engage the seat and is normallyheld thereon: by its own weight. A tubular sleeve 30' extends axiallythroughthe passage and has its lower end spaced from the ball. Thissleeve is preferably made integral with the shank of a screw 3| which isthreaded in the upper end of the passage. The screw 3| is provided withan angular head 32 and.

an axial bore 33- which extends through the head and. shank communicateswith the bore of the The lower end of the sleeve is-formed between thepassage above the ball 29' and the interior of the sleeve isestablished.

Normally, theballs 29 within the passages .21

' are resting on their respective seats 28Jto close said passages, theweight of said ball holding it in such position. When sufiicient gas hasaccumulated in the annular space 22 to..overcome the weight of saidballs, the latter are raised and i the gas flows into each passage.Zlabove the ball therein. From the passage, the gas passes through theradial openings 34 and into themterior of the sleeve, from where itescapes upwardly through the bore 33. of the screw and into the casingabove the nipple. The gas must flow through the radial openings 34' asitcannot, enter the lower end of the sleeve bore as the ball 25,;

upon being raised, engages. saidlower end. The lower end of the sleevethus serves as astop for limiting the upward movement of the ball 29.

When the pump is operating, the well fiuidis,

lifted upwardly in the well casing to the surface. It has been foundthat sand, or other extraneous matter, may be pumped upwardlythrough'the working barrel-B with the fluid,-Whereby said sand iscarried into the casing A abovethe-nipple l8 and collar lilL, Sincethere is a slight.

clearance between the exterior of the. collar 1'0 and. the well casingA,this sand falls downwardly .thereby and onto. the well packer l6,Whichis To-prevent this sand, or other ex-' undesirable. traneousmatter, from falling, or otherwise passing around the exterior-of thecollar ill, a flexible sealing ring 35 may be mounted on the top of thenipple I8. This ring rests on the top of the nipple and has perforations36 therein, through which the shanks of the screws 3| extend. The outerperiphery of the ring is reduced to arelatively thin edge and thisportion overhangs the space between collar-and casing, with theperiphery of said ring engaging the casing wall. A metallic confiningring 31 overlies the sealing ring and also has perforations throughwhich the screws 3| extend and the outer periphery of the confiningringdoes not extend beyond the exterior of the nipple I8. The heads ofthe screws 3| engage th ring 3T and with such arrangement, the rings 31and 35 are confined between the headsof the screws and the top of thenipple. The peripheral portion of the flexible ring 35 which overhangsthe space between the collar l and casing provides a positive seal whichprevents sand, or other extraneous matter from falling downwardly pastthe collar.

Under certain well conditions where a relatively small amount of freegas is present, the by-pass passages 21 are not necessary. In suchinstances, the upper end of the passages may be pluggedby solid headedscrews 3|, which are substituted for the screws 3|, as is clearly shownin Figure 8. If desired, the passages could be entirely eliminated withthe nipple [8 being constructed as shown in Figure 9. Regardless ofwhether or not the passages 21 are provided or used, the nipple supportsthe working barrel within the well.

The nipple I8, to which the working barrelB is attached, is entirelyseparate from the supporting collar and therefore, the nipple and barrelmay be removed at any time without disturbing the packer. The barrel maybe removed to repair or replace the valves or plunger and then returnedto its operating position within the well. Once set, the packer mayremain in the well permanently and any damage to the packer, which wouldresult from its removal, is obviated.

In Figure 6, the nipple has been shown as having the working barrel Bscrewed into its lower end, whereby the barrel depends through the pipesection. This mounting of the barrel is satisfactory and desirable whereconditions are such that this size working barrel will handle theproduction. However, in many instances it is necessary to employ alarger working barrel and. in such case, the barrel is mounted, as shownin Figure '7. A swaged nipple or collar 40 is screwed into the upper endof the nipple l8 and the upper diameter of the collar 40 may be any sizeup to the internal diameter of the well casing A. The lower end of aworking barrel B is threaded into the collar 40 and manifestly, the sizeof this barrel may be larger than the size of the barrel B in Figure 6,as the latter is limited in its diameter by the internal diameter of thepipe section 15. Therefore, by connecting the barrel B to the upper endof the collar 40, a working barrel of a much larger diameter may beemployed, whereby more fluid may be handled. When the barrel B extendsupwardly from the nipple l8, the pipe section l5 may be shortened oreliminated entirely, with the packing assembly l6 secured to the lowerend of the supporting collar l0. Radially extending guide lugs, or othermeans (not shown) may be provided at the upper end of the working barrelB to hold the same in axial alinement with the casing A. It is pointedout that in both forms herein described, the weight of the workingbarrel on the nipple I8 is sufficient to hold said nipple in its seatedposition within the collar ID and the well may be pumped without the useof tubing. Any suitable means may be employed for lowering and raisingthe nipple and barrel through the casing.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supportingcollar, means for anchoring said collar within the well casing andhaving an internal seat therein, a working barrel, a seating memberhaving a seat portion arranged to engage said seat and having a threadedbore for receiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supportedby the member and is removable therewith from the casing withoutdisturbing the collar, and means at the top of the collar and arrangedto engage the casing wall for preventing extraneous matter present inthe well fluid from falling downwardly between the collar and casing.

2. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a supporting collar, means for anchoring said collarwithin the well casing and having an internal seat therein, a workingbarrel, a seating member having'a seat portion arranged to engage saidseat and having a threaded bore for receiving the working barrel,whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removabletherewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, means forby-passing free gas below the collar and member, whereby said gas doesnot pass through the barrel, and means at the top of the collar andarranged to engage the casing wall for preventing extraneous matterpresent in the well fluid from falling downwardly between the collar andeasing.

3. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supportingcollar adapted to be mounted within the well casing and having aninternal bowl therein, aworking barrel, a seating member having a seatportion arranged to engage said bowl and having a threaded bore forreceiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supported by themember and is removable therewith from the casing without disturbing thecollar, said member having a vertical by-pass passage extendingtherethrough for-byv passing free gas below the member, valve meanswithin the passage for controlling the flow therethrough, and means atthe top of the collar and arranged to engage the casing wall forpreventing extraneous matter present in the well fluid from fallingdownwardly between the collar and casing.

4. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supportingcollar adapted to be mounted within the well casing and having aninternal seat therein, a working barrel, a seating member arranged toengage said seat and having a threaded bore for receiving the workingbarrel, whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removabletherewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, and a flexiblesealing ring secured to the top of the member and having its peripheryengaging the casing wall, whereby the peripheral portion of said ringoverhangs the annular space between the collar and casing to preventforeign matter in the well fluid above the collar from fallingdownwardly through this annular space.

5. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a well packer, a supporting collar associated with thewell packer and adapted to be mounted in the well casing when the packeris set therein, said collar being elongate and having an axial boreextending therethrough, the upper portion of said bore being of aconstant diameter, an elongate amplified seat within the boreimmediately below the constant diameter portion, a seating memberinsertable within the collar and having the lower portion of its outersurface inclined complementary to the seat and the upper portion of itsouter surface of a constant diameter, whereby when the member is seatedwithin the collar its straight upper portion is contiguous to thestraight portion of the bore of the collar and said member is confinedagainst lateral movement therein, a working barrel, and means forattaching the working barrel to said member, whereby said barrel iscarried by and removable with said member without disturbing the collarand packer.

6. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a well packer, a supporting collar associated with thewell packer and adapted to be mounted in the well casing when the packerin set therein, said collar being elongate and having an axial boreextending therethrough, the upper portion of said bore being of aconstant diameter, an elongate amplified seat within the boreimmediately below the constant diameter portion, a seating memberinsertable within the collar and having the lower portion of its outersurface inclined complementary to the seatand the upper portion of itsouter surface of a constant diameter, whereby. when the member is seatedwithin the collar its straight upper portion is contiguous to thestraight portion of the bore of the collar and said member is confinedagainst lateral movement therein, a working barrel, the seating memberhaving an axial screw-threaded bore extending entirely therethrough,whereby the working barrel may be connected in the bore to extendupwardly or depend downwardly therefrom.

7. A support for a working barrel in a well ineluding, a well casing, asupporting element adapted to be anchored. in said casing at a desiredelevation and having an axial bore extending therethrough, an elongateinclined seat formed in the bore and spaced from the top of the element,that portion of the bore above said seat being of a constant diameter, acomplementary member having an external seat portion at its lower endand having its outer surface of a constant diameter abovethe seatportion insertable within the element, so as to be supported thereby andheld against lateral displacement therein, said member having a bore,and means at each end of the bore for attaching a working barrel-to thememben'whereby said barrel may be supported in a position either aboveor below said member.

JOSEPH H. REYNOLDS.

